Ignition switch



Apr. 3, 1923,

w. KAISLlNG IGNITION SWITCH Filed July 15, 1918 fly W Hibrneg PatentedApr, 3, 1923.

UNITED STATES WILLIAM KAISLING, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR'TOKELLOGG SWITCHBOARI) AND SUPPLY COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ACORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

IGNITION SWITCH.

Application filed July 15,

of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inIgnition Switches, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to electrical switchessuch as are used forcontrolling the ignition and light circuits of an automobile or thelike, and has more particularly to do with the means used for securingsuch switches in position.

It is the object of my invention to pro- 1 vide means, which is simpleand cheap in construction but positive in operation, for securingswitches of the character above described in position, and at the sametime to provide protective means for the terminals 2 and apparatussecured to the back of such switches. Other objects will be pointed outin the ensuing specification and in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawing, I have il- 2 lus'trated one embodiment ofmy invention applied to a switch of the general type 'shown in myapplication for Letters Patent, Serial No. 173,084, filed June 6, 1917,but it is to be understood that my invention may be applied to variousother types of switches and is not limited to the exact type of switchshown in the drawings. In the said accompanying drawing, like parts areindicated by like reference characters in the different views, in which:

Fig. 1 shows a front view of the switch and a portion of the cowl ormember to which the switch is attached:

' Fig. 2 shows a sectional view of the switch and the means used forsecuring the switch in position, said view being a sectional view takenalong line 22 of Fig. 1';

Fig. 3 is a partial front view of theapparatus with part of the saidapparatus 4 broken away; and

Fig. 4 is a partial sectional view taken along line 44 of Fig. 2'.

Referring now in general to my invention as illustrated, it comprises aswitching.

unit S having an ignition switch I and a lighting switch L, a protectivecap C and a mounting or supporting member M which may be the cowl ordash of an automobile. The ignition switch I controls the circuits ofthe ignition apparatus of the automobile,

1918'. Serial N0. 244,864.

and the lighting switch L controls the circuits of the lamps of theautomobile. A common lock B is provided for locking the switches. I andL against actuation. The mechanism of the switch S is practically thesame as is disclosed in my said application, Serial No. 173,084. Thecowl M of the automobile is provided with a circular orifice D of a sizeto receive the cylindrical portion E of the switch S. A slot F is cut inthe lower peripheral portion of the orifice D for purposes to behereinafter explained.

The switch S is provided with an inwardly curved flanged front plate Gto which is attached the cylindrical cup-shaped portion H of the switchS which encloses the mechanism of the switch S. The plate G is providedwith a counter-sunk or de-' pressed circular portion J adapted toreceive a circular name plate K upon which is stamped, impressed ormarked in any desired manner the words Shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings,or any other suitable and desirable words or characters designating thedifferent switches and their different positions. A tongue N is pressedout of the plate G and extends inwardly, as is shown most clearly inFig. 2. The tongue N is of I a size to fit into the groove F' .cut inthe cowl M. A threaded rod P is secured to the switch S by being rivetedto the plate G and to the front portion of the cup threaded rod P isprovided with threads R adapted to receive a nut T to secure themounting plate U, which supports the mechanism of switch S, to the cupH. The cylindrical'cupC is provided with an orifice V through which athreaded portion of the rod P extends. A nut X and a lock washer Y areprovided for holding the cylindrical cup C in position.

A cylindrical orifice Z is provided in the cup C, through which extendsthe cable that connects the lighting switch L and the ignition switch Ito the apparatus of the automobile. The relay Q isv the overload relayshown .in the above-mentioned application. The cover. 0 encloses theterminals and the relay of the switch S, and prevents said terminalsfrom being accidentally short-circuited, and also prevents any dust orother foreign material from interferingwith the correct operation of theoverload relay and the other mechanism of the switch.

H. The

To place the switch S in position in the cowl M of the automobile, it isonly neces sary to insert the said switch in such a manner that thetongue N fits into the groove F cut in the cowl of the car, therebyprevent-v ing the switch S from rotating in the circular orifice D ofthe cowl. The cap or cover (1 is then placed over the rear portion ofthe switch S in such amanner that the rod 1 extends through the orificeV out in the cap t. The lock washer Y and nut X are then placed on therod P and the nut X tightened until the cup C securely holds the switchS in its position. lVhen the nut X is tightened, the rear portion C ofthe cup G acts to yieldingly hold the switch S in position; that is, theportion (f of the cup C having a certain amount of spring in it placesthe switch S under tension when the nut X is tightened. To remove theswitch S from its position, it is only necessary to loosen the nut X sothat the cover may be removed and the switch S taken out of the circularorifice D,

From the foregoing, it is at once apparent that I have provided a verysimple yet officient means for securing the lighting and ignition switchin position, and at the same time have provided means for preventing anyforeign material from gaining access to the mechanism of the switch; andhave also prevented the accidental short-circuiting of the terminals ofthe switch.

In illustrating my invention, I have shown a combination especiallyadapted for use with a certain type of lighting and ignition switch nowin use, but I do not desire to be limited to the exact structure asshown and described as I am aware that my method of mounting may be usedfor other pieces of apparatus and for other types of lighting andignition switches and that many modifications and changes will readilysuggest themselves to others. T hcrefore. I contemplate using myinvention otherwise than in the particular embodiment illustrated andwish to cover all changes and modifications which come within the spiritand, scope of the appended claims.

lVhat I claim as new and desire to secure by United States LettersPatent is: l

1. A device of thecharacter described including an electrical switch; amounting member provided with an orifice for receiving said switch andthrough which a portion of said switch and the mechanism secured to theback thereof protrudes; a cylindrical cup-shaped member adapted to haveits open end mounted against the back of said mount ing member, wherebythe said cup-shaped member encloses the protruding portion of saidswitch,said arrangement being such that the said switch and enclosingcup-shaped member may be used in connection with a mounting member ofany thickness; a

threaded stud secured to said front plate which extends rearwardlythrough said switch and an orifice in said cup-shaped member, andlocking means associated with the threaded stud for securing said switchin position.

2. A device of the character described including an electrical switch; amounting member provided with an orifice for receiving said switch andthrough which a portion of said switch and the mechanism secured to theback thereof protrudes: a cylindrical cup-shaped member adapted to haveits open end mounted against the back of said mounting member, wherebythe said cup-shaped member encloses the protruding portion of saidswitch. said arrangement being such that the said switch and enclosingcupshaped member may be used in connection with a mounting member of anythickness; means extending from said switch into said mounting memberfor securing said switch in position against rotation; a threaded studsecured to said front plate which extends rearwardly through said switchand an orifice in said cup-shaped member, looking means associated withthe threaded stud to secure said switch and cup-shaped member inposition, and another orifice in said cup-shaped member through whichconnecting wires extend to said electrical switch.

3. A device of the character described including an electrical switchprovided with a front plate: a mounting member having an orifice forreceiving said switch and against which said front plate rests; agroovecut in the peripheral surface of said orifice; an angular rearwardlyextending member formed integrally with said front plate and adapted toextend into said groove to prevent rotation of said switch in saidorifice; a cup-shaped member adapted to fit over the portion of saidswitch which extendsthrough said mounting member; and a threaded memberconnected to said front plate and extending rearwardly through saidswitch and a central orifice in said cupshaped member, and locking meansassociated with the threaded member for securing said switch inposition. said cup-shaped member acting as a securing means for holdingsaid switch in position and as a protective means for the terminals onthe back of said switch.

4, A device of the character described including an electrical switchprovided with a front plate; a mounting member having an orifice forreceiving said switch and against which said front plate rests; acupshaped member adapted to fit over the portion of said switch whichextends through said mounting member; a threaded member extendin fromsaid switch through a central orifice in said cup-shapedmember, andloclnng means associated With the threaded a projection on said switchextending rearwardly past said mounting member, a back cover for saidswitch having an orifice in it through which said projection extendswhen the cover is in place and into which said protruding portionextends, fastening means for attachment to said projection to press saidcover toward said switch, said cover then engaging that surface only ofsaid mounting member opposite that engaged by said projecting portion ofsaid switch to clamp said mounting member between said switch and saidcover to maintain said switch in its mounted position and to protectsaid terminals.

6. A device of'the character described including an electrical switchprovided with a front plate and having an outwardly extending flange; amounting member provided with an orifice for receiving said electricalswitch, the flange of said front plate resting against said mountingmem- 'ber; a groove cut in the peripheral surface of said mountingmember; an integrally formed angularly disposed tongue for said frontplate and adapted to extend into said groove; a cup-shaped memberadapted to be mounted against the rear of said mounting member and toextend over said orifice; a threaded stud secured to said front platewhich extends rearwardly through said switch and an orifice in saidcup-shaped member, and locking means associated with the threaded studfor securing said cupshaped member to said electrical switch,

thereby holding said switch in position, said arrangement being suchthat said switch may be attached to any thickness mounting member owingto the fact that the part of the switch which protrudes through the:mounting member extends into said cupshaped member.

7. The combination of an electrical switch of the character described,of a mounting plate having an orifice to receive said switch,cooperating means for preventing said electrical switch from rotatingrelative to said mounting plate, of acup-shaped cover adapted to bemounted against the rear of said mounting plate and to extend over saidorifice, an orifice in said cover, and a threaded stud secured to saidswitch and adapted to extend rearwardly through the orifice in saidcover to yieldingly secure said cover and switch in position.-

Signed by me at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State oflllinois,this 12th day of July, 1918.

WILLIAM KAISLING.

